Protector for automobile starting-switch buttons



ELM. GREENLEE I v.PROTECTOR FOR AUTOMOBILE STARTING SWITCH BUTTONS Fi1ed.July 30, 1925 'April 20 1926. 1,581,924

\ l Il PatentedApr. 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENr vorifaitr..l

ELT. M. GREENLEE, 0F NEWPORT, 'KENTUCKY PROTECTOR FOR AUTOMOBLE STARTINGeSWlTCH BU'ILITNS.,

Application led July 30, 1925. Serial No. 47,143.

To all Lo/rom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI 14. Gunn-Nenn, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Newport, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have .inventedv a new,

and useiiul Improvement in Protectors for Automobile Starting-Switch Buttons, ot' which the following speciiieation is a. viull disclosure. A f

My invention relates to an appliance for locking an automobile engine starter switch against operation, to prevent the accidental or malicious use of the starting switch, and in particular to a protective covering or closure1 adapted to be applied over the commercial starter switch buttons, protrudingthrough the ioor of an automobile, necessitating the use of a key for actuating the switch button.

An object ofthe invention is to pr-ovide a protective closure or covering on an eleotric switch button with a removable key, insertable through a latch controlled key opening or openings, for access to the switch button, the key utilized for actuating the switch button and securing the switch against operation or control when the key is removed.

Further objects and advantages will be more fully set forth in the description of the drawing forming a part of this speciiication in which: 1

Figure 1 is a` sectional view taken centrally of the cover and showing the cover as applied over t-he starter switch button.

Figure 2 is a sectional viewtaken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 8-3 of Fig. 1, showing the locking mechanism in the cap of the cover.

Figure 4 is a top plan view ofthe cover.

Figure 5 is a view' taken the same as `Fig. 1, but showing the key inserted in the casing and in .position for operation of the starter switch.

In the drawing, the appliance as an auto mobile engine starter switch button lock is illustrated as a casing having a latch controlled key opening adapting a key to be inserted into the casing for engaging and depressing the switch button. The device is arranged to be readily applied over a type ot engine starter switch button in commercial use, the switch button protruding from the fioor of the automobile. The device however can be `readily incorporated as ystarter button 17.

a part of the starter switch organization tor original installation.

The casing or cover rconsists oi a. tubular body portion 1 closed at its upper end by a.

cap 2 and iianged at the base thereof as at y ed within a. groove 8 in the lower side ot the cap and is held within the groove 8 by a plate 9 held rigidly in lateral grooves in the cap below the latch member. Apertures 101 11 are provided in the cap, the aperture 10 adapted to register with an aperture 12 in the latch member and the aperture 11 regisf tering with a tapered notch 13 at the outer end of the latch member. A U-shaped key 14 having one limb thereof provided with a tapered offset point 15, the taper corresponding to the taper of the notch 13, and a second shorter lengthk limb with aA blank end 16. i As the key 14 is inserted in the apertures 10, 11, they point 15 strikes the notch 13 and translates the latch member to bring' the aperture 12 in the latch member in registry with the aperture 10 in the cap. The limb of the U-shaped key having the .point 15, is slightly longer than the opposite limb so yas to align the opening 10 and 12 before the aperture in the plate 9 4and engages the As further pressure is exerted upon the key, the button 17 is forced downward and the switch is operated. Thel opposite end of the latch member from the notched end has a downturned portion 18 contacted by the loose end of a strip ci spring metal 19, this strip 19 being fastened at its lower end to the inner wall of the tubular casing. The metal strip returns the latch member to normal closed position when the key is withdrawn. T he top 20 of the key is flattened to present a smooth contact surface.

Thus, a cover for the sta-rter but-ton is provided, preventing useless operation of the starter and the entrance of dirt into the starter switch through the button aperture in the floor board` the cover also serving as a lock for the car inasmuch as the key is necessary to apply pressure to the starter button.

Haring described my invention, I claim:

l. A closure Iforv a motor starter switch button, comprising a casing having apertures through a Wall thereof tor key insertion, a latch member horizontally slidably mounted Within said casing as a closure `for said apertures, and a key engageable through said Casing` apertures arranged to actuatc said latch member and engage a starter button enclosed by said casing.

2. In combination with a motor starter switch button, a closure about said button, a latch member mounted in said closure, and a removable key adapted to enter said casing for actuating said latch member and depressing said starter button.

3. Closure means for a motor starter switch button comprising,` a casing, a latch member slidably mounted in said casing, apertures in said casing, a key adapted to engage through' said apertures for translating said latch member and actuating` said starter button.

4. In combination with av motor starter switch button, a closure about said button, a latch member slid ably mounted Within said closure, a groove and an aperture in said latch member, apertures in said closure, one in registry with said notch and the other disaligned With the aperture of said latch member, av U-shaped key havingone point adapted to engage the groove for translating the latch member and alignino the aperture in the latch member and the aperture in the closure for the entrance ot the other point ot the key, said key when 'further depressed, actuating said starter button.

5. A closure tor a motor starter switch button, comprising a casing' having apertures through a Wall thereof 'for key insertion,a latch member mounted in said casino' -;.c:1i'ially providing a closure for said aperitures, and av key haring diierent length Shanks, one for advancely engaging a respective casing aperture for actuating` said latch, and a second Jr`or engaging with a starter button `housed by said casina.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

ELI M. GREENLEE. 

